Farmers Guardian podcast - Andrew Dakin: "I face eviction from my Derbyshire tenant farm for solar panels"

This week's Farmers Guardian features Derbyshire tenant farmer Andrew Dakin who has launched a campaign to save Kidsley Park Farm from being 'lost forever' for a solar panel development

clock • 2 min read
Our guest for this week's podcast is Derbyshire tenant farmer Andrew Dakin who faces the prospect of eviction from his farm from a solar panel development
Image:

Our guest for this week's podcast is Derbyshire tenant farmer Andrew Dakin who faces the prospect of eviction from his farm from a solar panel development

Andrew Dakin is a local Derbyshire farmer whose entire livelihood is at risk.

As a third generation farmer at Kidsley Park Farm, Andrew's family have farmed in the village of Smalley near Heanor for 94 years.

Unfortunately Andrew had to take up the reigns of running the farm business after his father suffered a stroke in the 1980s.

Farming has been his main passion and love ever since he was a child. It is all he has ever known.

Farmers Guardian podcast: Minette Batters: 'I will not become a grumpy backbencher'

The Derbyshire farmer has supported local communities and businesses in the area and has been a huge advocate for numerous local schools and community projects.

However, the future of Kidsley Park Farm is now under threat from a solar development. 

Andrew said he had received correspondence from his landlord in May 2023 of his intention to sell the farm to a solar development.

Andrew has been left fearing for his livelihood and the occupation he has known all his life.

Over 100 acres of his farm would be used for the project.

He said it would ‘destroy' the farm and ‘harm' the surrounding countryside.

Kidsley Park Farm is home to a huge variety of wildlife - some red and amber listed, all at risk. 

Five miles of public trails and footpaths run through the farm, connecting villages and communities together.

Andrew has helped organised a campaign and petition which has rallied support to save the farm's existence and to save his livelihood.

He has received regional and national attention in the process.

NFU Conference: Mark Spencer - Farming Minister: "I pity some of those farmers in Wales who will find this army of regulators crawling all over them"

Andrew said Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper have supported the campaign's Facebook page.

Despite receiving support from his community and stars of Clarkson's Farm, Andrew said the situation has left him devastated.

He has had many sleepless nights and continues to fear about the future of his farm.

But the Derbyshire farm has said he remains upbeat and resilient about the future.

He will never give up fighting to keep the farm in existence.

He will fight until the very end.

We hope you enjoy listening to Andrew Dakin's story which is available on Apple, Spotify or right here:

More on Podcasts

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: View from the Hill – A US beef farming perspective on the UK-US trade deal

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: View from the Hill – A US beef farming perspective on the UK-US trade deal

On May 8, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced details of a trade deal agreed between the two countries impacting sectors including agriculture and farming

clock 16 May 2025 • 1 min read
The Farmers Guardian Podcast: VE Day special - The fight for food security past and present

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: VE Day special - The fight for food security past and present

Farmers and thousands of Land Girls helped to turn food security on its head during World War II, but what have we learned?

clock 09 May 2025 • 1 min read
The Farmers Guardian Podcast: View from the Classroom - "Many of my students don't come from farming backgrounds...they have fantastic ideas"

The Farmers Guardian Podcast: View from the Classroom - "Many of my students don't come from farming backgrounds...they have fantastic ideas"

This week's podcast is all about education, and a special look at the Government's response to the petition to try and get farming into schools

clock 02 May 2025 • 1 min read